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ToxFAQs™ for Trichloroethylene (TCE)

This fact sheet answers the most frequently asked health questions (FAQs) about trichloroethylene. For more information, call the CDC Information Center at 1-800-232-4636. This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries about hazardous substances and their health effects. It's important you understand this information because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether other chemicals are present.

Highlights

Trichloroethylene is used as a solvent for cleaning metal parts. Exposure to very high concentrations of trichloroethylene can cause dizziness headaches, sleepiness, incoordination, confusion, nausea, unconsciousness, and even death. Trichloroethylene has been found in at least 1,045 of the 1,699 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

How can trichloroethylene affect my health?

Trichloroethylene was once used as an anesthetic for surgery. Exposure to moderate amounts of trichloroethylene may cause headaches, dizziness, and sleepiness; large amounts may cause coma and even death. Eating or breathing high levels of trichloroethylene may damage some of the nerves in the face. Exposure to high levels can also result in changes in the rhythm of the heartbeat, liver damage, and evidence of kidney damage. Skin contact with concentrated solutions of trichloroethylene can cause skin rashes.

There is some evidence exposure to trichloroethylene in the work place may cause scleroderma (a systemic autoimmune disease) in some people. Some men occupationally-exposed to trichloroethylene and other chemicals showed decreases in sex drive, sperm quality, and reproductive hormone levels.

How likely is trichloroethylene to cause cancer?

There is strong evidence that trichloroethylene can cause kidney cancer in people and some evidence for trichloroethylene-induced liver cancer and malignant lymphoma. Lifetime exposure to trichloroethylene resulted in increased liver cancer in mice and increased kidney cancer and testicular cancer in rats.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the EPA determined that there is convincing evidence that trichloroethylene exposure can cause kidney cancer. Trichloroethylene is currently listed in the 13th Report on Carcinogens (Roc) as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. The NTP is actively reviewing TCE for possible change in listing status for the 14th RoC (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/37899).

How can trichloroethylene affect children?

It is not known whether children are more susceptible than adults to the effects of trichloroethylene.

Some human studies indicate that trichloroethylene may cause developmental effects such as spontaneous abortion, congenital heart defects, central nervous system defects, and small birth weight. However, these people were exposed to other chemicals as well.

In some animal studies, exposure to trichloroethylene during development caused decreases in body weight, increases in heart defects, changes to the developing nervous system, and effects on the immune system.

How can families reduce the risk of exposure to trichloroethylene?

Avoid drinking water from sources that are known to be contaminated with trichloroethylene. Use bottled water if you have concerns about the presence of chemicals in your tap water. You may also contact local drinking water authorities and follow their advice.

Discourage your children from putting objects in their mouths. Make sure that they wash their hands frequently and before eating.

Prevent children from playing in dirt or eating dirt if you live near a waste site that has trichloroethylene.

Trichloroethylene is used in many industrial products. Follow instructions on product labels to minimize exposure to trichloroethylene.

Is there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to trichloroethylene?

Trichloroethylene and its breakdown products (metabolites) can be measured in blood and urine. However, the detection of trichloroethylene or its metabolites cannot predict the kind of health effects that might develop from that exposure. Because trichloroethylene and its metabolites leave the body fairly rapidly, the tests need to be conducted within days after exposure.

Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health?

The EPA set a maximum contaminant goal (MCL) of 0.005 milligrams per liter (mg/L; 5 ppb) as a national primary drinking standard for trichloroethylene.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) set a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 100 ppm for trichloroethylene in air averaged over an 8-hour work day, an acceptable ceiling concentration of 200 ppm provided the 8-hour PEL is not exceeded, and an acceptable maximum peak of 300 ppm for a maximum duration of 5 minutes in any 2 hours.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) considers trichloroethylene to be a potential occupational carcinogen and established a recommended exposure limit (REL) of 2 ppm (as a 60-minute ceiling) during its use as an anesthetic agent and 25 ppm (as a 10-hour TWA) during all other exposures.

References

This ToxFAQsTM information is taken from the 2014 Toxicological Profile for Trichloroethylene (Draft for Public Comment) produced by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in Atlanta, GA.

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Disclaimer
Some PDF files may be electronic conversions from paper copy or other electronic ASCII text files. This conversion may have resulted in character translation or format errors. Users are referred to the original paper copy of the toxicological profile for the official text, figures, and tables. Original paper copies can be obtained via the directions on the toxicological profile home page, which also contains other important information about the profiles.

The information contained here was correct at the time of publication. Please check with the appropriate agency for any changes to the regulations or guidelines cited.